It won't go away, this one: Emma Way has been back on the BBC to tell her side of the story. Meanwhile the cycling community continues to reclaim the #bloodycyclists hashtag with a new website set up in its honour.

Not surprisingly to anyone who's been in a collision with a vehicle that's been taken further, Emma's position (outlined through her solicitor, Simon Nicholls) is that her driving wasn't at fault, and that Toby Hockley, the cyclist, was the one who hit her.

Nicholls said "All the way through, Emma has said, 'it wasn't my driving that was at fault. It was the cyclist who clipped my mirror, not the other way round'."

We don't remember her saying that all the way through, although obviously it's the most sensible position for her to take should the case come to be heard. Effectively here it's the word of one party against the other, although the presence of other cyclists will likely give at least one other credible witness of the incident. Hockley's position, when he spoke to us, that he was descending on a blind corner and keeping to his side of the road. Short of a forensic examination of the tarmac – and we don't think that's very likely – it would boil down to the witness statements.

As for the the failure to stop? "I did stop", Emma says in the interview. "I don't know what the point is that I didn't stop. I stopped, looked in my rear, I assessed the situation and I saw that there was no need to stop. If he'd wobbled and gone to the side there's no way I would have driven off."

The law here is clear, and Emma's actions don't meet its requirements. Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act (1988) states that in any case where injury or damage is caused by a collision, "The driver of the vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle". Since we know that the cyclist was both injured and his bike damaged (albeit neither seriously), to drive away is to commit an offence unless the driver then reports the incident. So whether Ms Way is guilty of committing the offence of leaving the scene of an accident is largely down to whether she reported the incident or not. It would certainly be ironic if the twitter outcry meant that she did in fact comply, although obviously without it it's likely the incident would never have been reported, since she didn't stop to exchange details.

Ms Way's solicitor was at pains to outline how bad it's been for Emma since her fateful tweet. "For poor old Emma's sake, she spent the first few days knocked from pillar to post by people saying things about her, national newspapers turning up on her doorstep, and the simple and unequivocal fact is that she felt it was about time she started kicking back a bit; not about the tweet which she's always accepted she was completely wrong to have done, but about the suggestion that she was driving badly because she's always said that she wasn't"

"I've had people drive past me and shout 'killer cyclist' [sic] when it's not the case at all", Emma added. "No-one's heard my story until now. People shouldn't just judge me when all they've seen is a stupid tweet that I made and then the other guy's side of the story. The real side of the story just isn't what it's been portrayed as."

As has been consistently the case in media interviews, Ms Way's assertion in her tweet that she has 'right of way' over a cyclist and cyclists 'don't pay road tax' were not touched upon.

The cyclist involved, Toby Hockley, has also been interviewed, by ITV News. "I was very surprised she didn't stop", he said of the incident. "I hit her car fairly hard. As you can see I'm not a not a small guy. If you hit me with a car, you're going to know about it."

"I was just grateful I was okay", he continued. "A lot of cyclists come off an awful lot worse in these situations. Being in one piece, and being able to finish the ride... I just considered myself lucky"

Asked about the tweet, and its aftermath, Hockley said, "Well I'm glad she's remorseful. I would very much liked her to stop after any sort of collision to make sure the person was all right . She claimed she didn't see me; I could have been a child. I could have been a walker - anyone. That's all the more reason to stop and check . I'm sorry she's in trouble with her employers and I feel very bad for her employers that have done a lot of good for sport in Norwich and I hope their image hasn't been tarnished out of all this."

He wouldn't be drawn on what he thought should happen to Ms Way, saying that it was a matter for the Police, the CPS and her employers.

Meanwhile, efforts to reclaim the #bloodycyclists hashtag continue apace, with the creation of www.bloodycyclist.com. "This page has been created in the aftermath and media frenzy created by the recent collision between a Motorist and a cyclist (Toby Hockley) on a small country road in Norfolk on Sunday 19th May", the site begins. "After the collision the motorist made what can only be described as an ill advised tweet almost boasting of the fact that she had knocked down a cyclist and ended the tweet with #bloodycyclists."

"We have lots of plans that we will roll out over the coming days but our main hope is that we can raise some awareness and money for some of the dangers that face cyclists on a daily occurrence."

The site currently features some thoughts from Toby himself (who's been fairly pragmatic about the whole thing throughout), and a quick precis of the 'road tax' situation via www.ipayroadtax.com.

There's lots of other stuff knocking about too. Here's a little skiffle song immortalising the incident, from twitter user @Miskhills:

And here's @VexedVeloist's take on the original interview, with subtitles

I'm waiting for her to come out with "I wasn't even driving, I was on a bike and I wasn't even on that road...In fact it wasn't even me who tweeted it"

Changes every time! Girl is only sorry it turned into a media frenzy, not that she has an obvious lack of responsibility behind the wheel! She would be better of taking full responsibility, owning up to her actions and then volunteering to take some sort of driving proficiency and accepting the charges that would calm things down and possibly even save her job though it seems her lawyer needs a lesson in PR.

The one time I have nearly been knocked off the woman stopped ahead of me and talked to me, offered to ring anyone or take me home and she didn't even hit me. If someone had hit my wing mirror I'd have got out and checked if everyone was okay, I definitely wouldn't have published it online, then again I'm not foolish enough to think that a public broadcasting network is private

I just hope she is dealt with according to the law, it's worrying that people like her are behind the wheel She is just trying to dig herself out of the very large hole she has dug!She needs to grow up and face up to what she has done and also stop filming herself doing 95mph is a good start.

With you on that one. This will backfire on people who ride bikes (I rather say that than 'cyclist' as we are all people first). I think we are all angry about this, but lets not get aggressive, doesnt help in the slightest.

Dont forget the smartphone photo and tweet of her car at 95mph. It wouldn't surprise me if that was on an "A" road too.... Then we have the smartphone photo and tweet of a car holding her up, done while she was driving. You have two motoring offences there. A third with failing to stop. I bet she even tweeted that while she was driving too....

This girl is a menace on the road and a serious accident waiting to happen. Her displays of arrogance and ignorance over recent days is utterly dreadful despite her age. I've seen enough of her mug in the media now. She needs prosecuting, fining and banning for 5 years for all those offences she's committed. Then she needs to go away and ponder her attitude because right now she's worm and a despicable creature.

Excellent points here, Cycle_Jim. I found Ms Way's tweet almost unbelievable when I first saw it on road.cc. Then I learned that she'd been using a mobile phone while driving, and that she was probably over the white line when the "accident" occurred. If she gets off without being charged, well, there's summat up is all I can say. As you say, she needs some driving lessons and ought to attend a course in how to use social media. As for her solicitor, I think he needs a new tailor.

Strikes me that most of the "facts" presented by both parties should be fairly easy to prove - scratches on the cyclist if he went through the hedge, matching dents on brake hoods or bars and car if she did only clip his handlebars, so eventually I hope the truth will out. Trouble is if it turns out that the cyclists were pretty much accurate in the version of events, somebody needs to take a good look at this woman not just as a driver but as a person - to hit another person in your car, to not stop and worse still to almost gloatingly Tweet about it is pretty callous stuff. Throw in lack of remorse, a seeming inability to see anything wrong in her actions and all of a sudden she's ticking boxes contained (amongst MANY others I hasten to add) in the definition of "psycopath". I suppose there's a very faint line dividing someone capable of extreme stupidity from a truly dangerous person, and I suspect she's just the former but I can't quite shake the latter thought either.

Oh, and what sort of solicitor sits next to a client in two interviews and lets them obviously misconstrue the law about stopping after an accident. Perhaps one who is better at publicity than law?

Maybe she just took a look at Hockley's face, ears and hair and decided to put him out of his misery
Is it possible for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rick Astley to have a love child?

If she did it on purpose she should fess up and stop hiding behind a 'hooray henry' lawyer. Who the hell wears a suit like that in public? Oh yes that's right a Tw@t that hasn't left the 80's. At least I was able to adjust my horizontal hold. And no, that' not some deviant sexual position.

So how do you get away with admitting you "knocked down a cyclist" and then claiming you didn't knock them down, they hit you? Can't see that looking very good in Court, if it gets there, but shame on the media for not asking the question.

The bottom line is she didn't give a shit about the person she could have severely injured. I hope the cops throw the book at her and she realises she must take responsibility for her actions. As we all do !!!!

Seems to me there's embellishment on both sides here. Tony seems very sanguine for someone who allegedly hit the windscreen and ended up in the bushes. He was also on a Sportive. Anyone who's ridden one will know how some ride as though they're pros on a closed road...

Whilst in no way condoning Ms Way's apparent attitude, reported actions and that ridiculous tweet, just saying both stories have more holes than a Tetley teabag.

Self-righteous indignation and personal attacks remind me of criminals in prison who attack other inmates for committing heinous crimes. As though they themselves are in there for a holiday.

There is NO proof of this accident, nothing was reported to the police at the time. One side would have to push for charges to be made before it can go anywhere....

The police cannot just magic up charges without knowing exactly what happened.

YES she admits that something happened and that the tweet was stupid. But there cyclist's story is as vivid as something your would hear on Jackanory.

Unless you are Emma or Toby, you do not know the exact details of what happened. So NO-ONE on this forum or anywhere is in a place to judge what the crime was or the penalty.

As for her other tweets with the car in front and the 95mph. She would have needed to be caught at the time with the mobile in her hand with the car running and keys in it. You cannot just take photographic evidence like that and make assumptions....

Perhaps people need to review some of their comments about people which may be libelous - I'd hate her being able to prosecute for defamation and make money out of the incident. Or for her solicitor to buy some more loud jackets either.

[[[[[ Gkam84---if she gets away without appearing in a court of law, then yes, the incident will indeed "serve as a nice lesson to others", namely that reckless drivers will continue to get away with their recklessness....
P.R.

"Simon Nicholls
Simon has specialised in the field of Criminal Defence work for over thirty years and is a director of the Company.
His passion for the law, skill in advocacy and a string of high-profile clients have earned him a reputation in the profession which extends far beyond the boundaries of East Anglia"

"Described quite simply as "the leading firm in Norwich," Belmores remains the most active practice in the area. As one interviewee states: "They're the busiest because they're the best." The team handles a range of private and publicly funded criminal matters.

Simon Nicholls is an "exceptional advocate" who is described as being "head and shoulders above everybody" in the region. He's been one of the busiest practitioners in the area for many years."

The firm is described as "Road Traffic Solicitors". Hey maybe Toby could do with some representation too. Nothing about dodgy suits though

You can clearly see the Pre-lawyer and Post-lawyer story develop on this one. My fault vs Cyclists fault.

Mind you I do love the way cyclists use Social Media as a community to support and help each other when an event like this takes place. I can't imagine where an event like this would end up without the attention drawn to it from across Twitter for example, and we have a new Hashtag to follow as a result #bloodycyclists

More than one person on the various threads here on road.cc regarding Miss Way seem to think the cyclist is called Tony. Now I don't know the bloke personally but there are many reliable sources suggesting he is called Toby. What was that about consistency/accuracy etc. when debating such issues...?!

Edster99, if that's the case surely that's witholding evidence of her being an incredibly dangerous driver?! Lawyers eh...I've always thought (were I somehow to change lives and become a lawyer) that it'd be pretty difficult to to defend someone who is clearly guilty (even if it is only of being a monumental idiot) but I suppose the pay cheques probably help with that.

More than one person on the various threads here on road.cc regarding Miss Way seem to think the cyclist is called Tony. Now I don't know the bloke personally but there are many reliable sources suggesting he is called Toby. What was that about consistency/accuracy etc. when debating such issues...?!

Edster99, if that's the case surely that's witholding evidence of her being an incredibly dangerous driver?! Lawyers eh...I've always thought (were I somehow to change lives and become a lawyer) that it'd be pretty difficult to to defend someone who is clearly guilty (even if it is only of being a monumental idiot) but I suppose the pay cheques probably help with that.